Casket.



-C. M. CALLAHAN.

CASKET.

APPLICATION FILED APR.28. 1909.

1,148,828. Patented Aug. 3, 1915.

. WITNESSES:

" rrn Arne ATENT onion.

C A E "CAL AI' ANX WQ QE T B-QM S AQH ET GASKET.

-Speci'fication of Letters Patent.

. Patented Aug."3, 1915.

7 ApplicationfiledApril 28, 19Q9. 5 Serial N o.-492,624.

, tainnew and, usefullmprovements in Casvkets, of which the tion.

This'invention is aniinproyement in caskets, and relates particularly to an attach ment or extension to the lining or interior of an ordinary casket, wherebysaidcasket is so changed in appearance as to produce substantially the same effect andappearance. as obtains in the socalled full-couch, halfcouch, half-shrine, and full-shrine caskets.

Prior to this invention, .no attempt has ever been made to extend the lining of the casket loosely over. the top edge or surface of the sides and ends andoutward to such an extent as to form a valance, which will droop about the outer-surfaces of the sides and ends of thecasket, thereby doing away with all sharp corners and edges, whereby a soft couch effectis provided.

In the accompanying drawings I ,have illustrated different i practical embodiments of the invention, but the constructions, shown therein are to be understoodas illustrative ionly, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

Figure 1 shows the invention applied to an ordinary casket for the purpose of producing a half-couch efiect; Fig. 2 shows the invention applied to. an ordinary casket for the purpose of producing a full-couch effect; Fig. 3 is a view, partly. in section and partly in elevation, on line 33 of Fig. 2 (looking in the direction of the arrows), the cover to the casket being off, and the molding on the body being omitted, and showing the extension to the lining dropping over the side of the casket; Fig. 4. is a. partial sectional elevation, showing the extension-turned back into the casket, the molding on the body being omitted, and showing the position of the cover with reference thereto, and Fig.

5 shows one way of securing the lining and extension together, this view being a partial end elevation, andppartial section, on line 55 of Fig. 1.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 4, A, represents the casket as a whole, I), the side thereof, 0, c, the ends, d, the cover, provided with the rail, 6, which joins the casket at the top edge, f, thereof. 13, is the following is, a, specifica- .-,ondinary lining common to caskets andex- ,tends upwardly. to just below the topedge of v thesides and ends of the casket. Either made continuous with said lining, 6., in one piece therewith, or secured thereto by a oin ng, gimp, milliners fold, rose trim, or

in someother well known orequivalent manner, (such as byblind tacking), is the attachment or extension, C, extending over the edge of the ,top surface of sides and ends and downwardly, to, such extentas desired.

.As shown in Fig. 4, the attachment or extension isturned or folded inwardly, and, it

will beobserved that, in such position, it

does'not interfere with ,the locking of the cover in place. In Fig.4 I have shown ex tension C secured to lining B, butitwill be understood, however, that the extension .need notbe, directly attached, but maybe. merely tacked to the inside of the casket. This attachment.v or extension folds loosely, i. c. in theflowingmanner, over the edge, as described, thereby producing in the depending portion the effect of having a support behind it, as is the fcase. with the couch. and shrine caskets previously described. The at tachment may eXtendto the degree desired,

- 2. a. merely over the edge, or below the handles so as to cover the same, or to any intermediate point. To produce, 6. 9., the effect of a shrine casket, the extension would drop down lower than though it were desired to produce the couch casket effect. The extra lining or filling, g, at thehe'ad of the casket is of, the ordinary construction for producing the pillow effect, and providing for a shoulder or full length display of body and casket interior.

In Figs, 2, 3, and 5, the casket, as a whole, is designated by, A b, isthe side thereof, and 7, the upper or exposed edge of sides and ends when not'covered by the extension. B, is theordinary lining, and C, the attachmentfor. extensionffthereto, shown in Figs. 3 and- 5 as secured to the lining just below the top edge of casket ends and sides byagimp. or similar means, it. The pillow effect. at the head of the-cofiin is substantially the same as shown inL Fig. 2 and is designated, 9. hen the. easketis being brought to'the place where it is to be installed, the attachment or extension, C, C, is folded inwardly as shown in Fig. 4, and part of it may, if desired, be tucked into the cove, or portion just under the rail. It will thus be apparent that the extension does served, moreover, that in the said couch' not in any manner interfere with the placing on, or removing of, the cover of the casket. When the cover has been removed the extension is thrown or folded outward, W

loosely, into the position shown in Figs. 1, 2,3, and 5. 7 a

In the'couch and shrine caskets it requires some little time and-trouble to loosen or detach the hinged member or members, usually twojor more, to permit of a drop thereof on two sides and one end, orfon two' sides and two ends, or in such other manner 'as the design calls for, and, also, requires time and trouble to swing and secure them into their closed positions. It will be obcaskets, an unsightly corner is sometimes exposed when the hinged end or ends, and

. sides, are dropped into their open positions. In my invention, however, no such corner 1s exposed, but, on the contrary, the same efiect is produced on the corners as on the sides and ends, these being continuous and meeting each other without any, or at least any perceptible, joint or union.

In practice, the manufacturer may attach the extension to the lining, and sell the article complete, either afiixed to or separate from the casket, or the retailer may, if he prefers, purchase the usual casket lining and attach the extension thereto himself. The

extension may be of the same shade or color as the lining, or different, as desired, and,

moreover, may be finished on its exposed or outer surface only, or on both surfaces as desired. It will be understood, further, that it may be made of any suitable material,

and the lower edge thereof may be finished in any appropriate manner.

While the invention is particularly adapted for producing couch and shrine eifect caswhen closed, do not present an appearance kets, it may be also availed of to cover the exposed corners which now exist 1n caskets of solidarity, owing to the numerous joints therein, and are more or less objectionable on this account. This objection, it will be apparent, does not apply to the improved casket disclosed herein, and furthermore,

the expense and trouble of making the seetional members of the couch and shrine cas-.

kets is obviated. Then again, the ordinary casket lining may be applied to the casket more economically and expeditiously, than is now the case, since the tacks or other means employed to secure such lining in place are covered up when the extension occupies its display position, and any defects in the work of fastening said lining are obscured from view.

Throughout the description I have employed the term casket to mean a coflin in addition to what is usually termed a casket.

It will be understood, of course, that slight changes may be made in the invention as described, such as the substitution of equivalents, and that itmay' be adapted to meet various conditions without departing from the spirit or substance of the inven tion.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a burial casket provided with a suitable lining, and a balance secured along one of its edges at'the upper edgeof the casket so as to normally extend over the upper edge thereof and drape downwardly over the sides of the casket,,whereby the unsightly upper edge of the casket is concealed and a neat and pleasing effect produced, said valance being foldable within the casket to allow the close fitting of the casket cover upon the casket.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a burial casket provided with a suitable lining, and'a valance distinct from and independent of the lining of the casket and secured along one of. its edges interiorly of the upper edge of said casket,

so as to normally cover said edge of the casket and drape downwardly over the outside of the casket, whereby the unsightly upper edge of the casket is concealed and a neat and pleasing effect produced, said valance being foldable within the top of the casket for the purpose of leaving the upper edge of the casket exposed, whereby a cover may be tightly placed upon the casket.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence 0 two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES M. CALLAHAN,

Witnesses:

MARTIN CALLAHAN, J AS. I1. GRIFFIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. G. 

